Means for gas separation



Filed Nov. 28

h 192 Marc 22 7 H. DUMARs ET A L MEANsFoR GAS SEPARATION Patented 22, 1927. l l'UNITEDS'laTiZS"Pairna'r OFFICE.

HORACE DUiIAns, or NEW SUFFOLK, AND WILLIAM `sIENcER BOWEN, or NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIeNons 'ro BOWEN-normas rowna cORronA'rIoN, or NEW YORK,- N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEWYORK.

MEANS F011. GAS SEPAATION.

Application filed November 28, 1923. `Serial No. 677,528.

This invention relates to a means for dryrefrigerant which enters by the pipe 7 and 55 ing a single specific gas or a group of gases leaves by the pipe 8. In the present informing partof the constituency of amixstance, in which gasolineand water are the ture of gases, by subjecting the mixture to two condensates from which it is desired to refrigeration for reducing the temperature vsegregate the pure methane gas, the brine is vto a point appropriately lowto cause change preferably an aqueous liquid, nonmiscible 60 of -state of the gases wlich it is desired to with the liquid condensate butmiscible with segregate from the dried gas, said gases, in the solid condensate when the latter is either their changed state being then removed inits'solid or liquid state. 'Preferably, the

10 from the mixture in any suitable manner. temperature of the brine is below the lique- One of the objects of the invention is the lfaction temperature ofthe liquid condensate 65 promulgation of the method as above outbut above the temperature at which the solined. Y l ldi'tied condensate liqueies, so that the lat- Another object is the construction oi apter melts and. goes into solution with the paratus for accomplishing this result. brine. If desired the jacket may be ur- A subordinate object is the provision of nished with baffles, one of which is illus'- 70 the liquid belt or conveyer for carrying o trated at 9, for giving a tortuous path to the the separated constitentsof the mixture. `brine flow. The brine is for the purpose ot' Other objects Will appear as the descripcooling the gaseous mixturewhich enters 2o tion proceeds. l by the conduit 10, below the critical tem- In the specific embodiment of the invenperature at which some/of its constituents 75" tion shown in the drawings, the apparatus is condense, the dried methane, which does not l especially designed for the treatment of the condense at said critical temperature being v gases issuing trom some of the natural gas discharged by way of the conduit 11. The

wells in which methane, gasoline and water separating chamber 5 may be provided with issue in mixture at a suiciently high temf baiiles such as the baiiie 12 for causing a tor- 80 perature to maintain all the said constitutnous flow of the gaseous mixture while in .ents thereof in gaseous state. It is tobe unsaid chamber and bringing all parts into derstood, however, that any mixture of gases proximity to the chilled walls of said cham- -is susceptible of similar treatment. ber.

In the drawings: i In the present group of gases forming` the 85 Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through mixture with which thev illustrative embodi a gas drying apparatus. ment of the invention deals, the temperature' Figure 2 is ,a transverse section taken ismade sufficiently low to cause the water- J5 along the line 2*2 of Figure 1.4 K y `vapor to freeze into a solid snow which c ol- VFigure is a`horizontal sectiony taken lects on or around the battles 13 extending `90 along the line v3--3 of Figure 1. into the conveyer tank. The gasoline, at

Referring now in detail to the several iig- 'the saine time, condenses iinto a liquid which ures, the numeral 1 represents a brine tank flows into the conveyer tank. The latter 40 which serves as a foundation for supporting communicates with the brine tank at one end the conveyer t'ank 2, the latter being carried by means of a pipe 14 connected to the dis- 95 by' I-beams br, other suitablev sustaining charge side of a pumpl which is run by members 3 which rest upon the top of the any `suitable source of-power such as the mo#l tank f1. 'These tanks may bemade vin any .tor 16. The induction side of said pump is l desired-manner oi'. shape, the conveyertank connected with the brine tank by means ofbeing shownjas open at the top andy having the pipe 17. The opposite end of the con 10o the upper edge thereof surrounded .by va veyer tank communi-Cates with the brine tank,`' wide flange 4. This'laiige serves to support asteady endless stream of brine being pumped two fianged receptacles," thejclosed separatinto the conveyerv tank and returning to the 'ing or condensing chamber 5, and a jacket brine tank. lThe brine 'which circulates 6 therefor of larger-size than said separataround the wall'of 'the separating 'chamber los ing chamber and forming'- a space' around 5 is of a different batch from the brine which thewalls of the latter'.V This space Lis forV circulates between vthe conveyer tank' and the reception of circulating brine, Or-Other brine tank, the temperature of the latter' being suiciently high to melt and carry away the snow formed by the water vapor which has condensed upon the baies 13. The water thus formed mingles with the brine diluting the same and necessitating its renewal from time to time, an inflow pipe 19 being provided for this purpose. Meanwhile the gasoline has collected on top of the layer of brine circulating through the conveyer tank and is carried into the relatively sluggish current of the brine in the brine tank 1, where it forms a gasoline layer 20 float-ing upon the brine above the level of the induction and discharge pipes of said brine tank and the depth of which may 'be ,viewed through the sight glass 21. A siphon 22 in provided for drawing away the gasoline, the inner endof said siphon terminating within the brine tank adjacent the bottom of the layer of gasoline. Care must be taken to maintain the brine level slightly below the mouth of the inner end ofthe Siphon to avoid the brine being drawn over with the gasoline. To this endV a discharge pipe 23 is provided for draining oil some of the brine', from time to time as the quantity of the'latter becomes augmented through dilution with the snow formed in condenser tank. ln the interest of thermal etliciency the enclosure 6 is covered exteriorlj7 with aheat insulating coating 24.

Having described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Apparatus for segregating a specific gas or gases from a mixture of gases/having critical temperatures so related that one becomes liquid while another solidilies at said critical temperature, including a condensing chamber, a conveyer tank and a brine tank, said condensing chamber being in superposed relation to said conveyer tank, a member enclosing said condensing chamber and spaced therefrom forming a jacket forthe reception of a refrigerating medium, means communi-f eating with said condensing chamber for admitting and discharging the mixture, baiiies i-n said chamber giving a tortuous ,flow to said mixture, collectingI plates in the 'conveyer tank for receiving the solid condensate from said mixture, conduits connecting the opposite ends of said conveyer tank and brine tank forming a closed circulation syste1na pump in said system producing a continuous flow through said conveyer and; brine tanks and a discharge pipe in said brine tank having the lower end thereof at the proper level to withdraw a layer of non-miscible liquid condensate from said mixture which may collect in said brin@ tank.

2. Apparatusfor collecting the liquld con- *densate of one or more of the gases in a vmixture of `gases including a condensing chamber into which said mixture of gases is introduced, upper and lower tanks connected together at remote points of pipes, a conduit for the closed circulation of a liquid vehicle non-miscible with the liquid condensate, said condensing chamber being in opencommunication with the upper of said tanks, means for causing circulation of said liquid vehicle serially through said tanks and pipes, the latter being connected to the lower tank below the level of said liquid vehicle therein, and a discharge pipe for the liquid condensate, opening into the lower tank at a point above'the level of said liquid vehicle.

3. Apparatus for collecting the liquid condensate of one or more of the gases in aI mixture of l chamber into which said mixture of -gases is introduced, upper and lower tanks connected together at remote points by ipes, forming a conduit for the closed circu ation of a liquid vehicle non-miscible with the liquid condensate, said condensing chamber being in open communication with the upper of said tanks,

rough said tanks and pipes, the latter being connected tothe lower tank below the level of said liquid vehicle therein, and a discharge pipe for, the liquid condensate, lower tank at a point below the level of said liquid vehicle and means for subjecting the mixture of gases in said condensin c amber to the critical temperature of t producing said liquid condensate.

4. Apparatus for segregating a specific gas or gases from a mixture of gases having critical temperatures so related that one becomes liquid while another solidies at the temperature to which said mixture of ases s subjected, including a condensingm amer, condenslng chamber being in open communication with said conveyer tank, collecting plates in said conveyer tank for receiving a deposit of the solid condensate from said mixture, pipes connecting the opposite ends of said conveyer tank and brine tank forming a closed circulation system, a pumpl in said system producing a continuous iiow through said conveyer and brine tanks,'a

discharge pipe in said brine tank having' the lower end thereof at the proper level to withdraw a layer of non-misclble liquid condensate from said mixture which may collectiin said brine tank, and a discharge forl said brine tank.

means for causin circulation of said liquid vehicle serially t opening into the e gases a conveyer tank and a brine tank, said forming gases including a condensing i.

In testimony whereof we have lhereunto set our hands.

HORACE DUMARs. WM,v SPENCER BowEN. 

